Let’s compare notes guys, because summer’s in full swing now, and I want to know how you’re feeling. I know most of you are probably warmed up now that the chill of winter has long subsided, the sun is shining on the reg these days,(unless it is constantly raining...) and your weekends are jam-packed with road trips, spending time outdoors, and maybe even cashing in on a few flier miles for the tropical vacay of your dreams. It’s understandable — I mean, there’s really no denying the energized vibe of summer is pretty sweet, but can the heat affect your mood for the worst when warm temps keep getting warmer? Because seriously, I don’t know about you, but when my weather forecast app reads 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, I’m cranking up the AC to cool me down and keep my mood in check. My entire family is affected my my drastic mood swings.
It’s not even a situation of hiding in the AC either; I get so agitated in the heat that it’s almost unbearable, and according to experts, I’m certainly not the only one.The heat affects your mood in ways beyond your level of laziness, though. In fact, it can make you cranky.
According to Robert Glatter, M.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health, the heat affects your mood in a lot of different ways, depending on your preferences and personality. “While the majority of people feel invigorated and motivated to engage in activities [in the summer], in some people, the heat may trigger feelings of agitation, aggression, making them feel out of control,” he tells Elite Daily. Feelings of agitation and aggression, huh? Yup, that sounds about right to me.
But while some people (me) just feel kind of crabby in the heat, Glatter goes on to explain that one in 10 cases of all seasonal affective disorders (SAD) are 'reversed.' This, per Mayo Clinic's definition of SAD, means that someone with reverse SAD feels an onset of symptoms of depression in the spring and summer months because of the changes related to the warmer season, such as more sunlight exposure, a drastic change in temperature, etc.
The cool thing about summer (no pun intended) is that, yeah, there are going to be days when it's scorching hot outside, but there are also a ton of ways to simmer down physically and mentally, too. Whether it is taking a dip in the pool, turning back around and staying cool in the house just remember.... breathe in, breathe out, turn up the AC, and turn down the drama. Summer isn't meant to be stressful, friend, so if you can't beat the heat, the best thing you can do for your mood is to get out of it.
